Stop if you've heard this before: Rex Ryan just guaranteed the Jets will go to the Super Bowl.

Speaking before reporters at Thursday's NFL scouting combine, Ryan said "there are no excuses" for the Jets in 2011 -- provided there is a season -- and that they absolutely, positively will find a way to get to the top. Of course, that's what he said the past two seasons, too, and the Jets failed to reach the top.

"We're committed," he said. "We're going to find a way to get it done. I'm going to see if I can 'will' a championship. Anything it takes. We have no excuses. Whatever it takes, we're going to find a way to get it done."

The Jets missed the Super Bowl the past two years by one victory, losing in the 2009 conference championship game to Indianapolis and the 2010 game to Pittsburgh. In both seasons, they played all their post-season games on the road -- beating division champion, New England, which had the league's best record, in the 2010 playoffs.

"I don't care what people think," he said. "I care what our organization believes, and what our fans believe. I thought we got better last year. If you can improve a little more, why not us? I believe we can be champions. Why shouldn't I believe it?"

Ryan confessed that two areas that need improvement are the team's Red Zone offense and Red Zone defense. He also said he would like "all our players back," though he knows that isn't feasible. In the end, though, he said what he's been saying since he took over the Jets ... which is that they're the team to beat.

"That's just Rex being Rex," said general manager Mike Tannenbaum. "He's confident."

One reason Harbaugh's entry into the NFC West was so welcome was that it renewed the rivalry he had with Carroll, the former USC coach who had that memorable "What's the deal" post-game exchange when Harbaugh coached at Stanford. But Harbaugh said there are no hard feelings, that he and Carroll are just, well, "professional" rivals.

Harbaugh went on to say he had "genuine respect" for the job Carroll did at USC and the Seattle Seahawks, then added "but we want to beat him." He will have his chance. Harbaugh and Carroll play twice each season.